Variable volume containers useful in pack-off operations

Abstract

Disclosed are container apparatuses that have variable volume capacity, which are useful, for example, as pack-off containers in operations involving manufactured articles. The container apparatuses can have vertically translatable bottom members to adjust volume capacity, and the bottom members can also be rotatable to facilitate the presentation of manufactured articles for removal. The vertically translatable bottom members can be suspended flexible sheet materials, portions of which can be raised or lowered to re-contour the shape of and adjust the volume capacity of the container apparatuses.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A rotating pack-off container for receiving manufactured articles, comprising:
 a circumferential frame; 
 a container bottom wall supported in association with the circumferential frame, the container bottom wall arranged to support manufactured articles when residing in the container, and the container bottom wall translatable vertically to vary a volume capacity of the container; 
 a drive mechanism arranged to rotate the container bottom wall so as to rotate manufactured articles when supported on the bottom wall; 
 a central pole supported on a base, and wherein the container bottom is vertically translatably supported on the central pole; and 
 wherein the container bottom comprises a flexible sheet material supported between the central pole and the circumferential frame. 
 
     
     
       2. The rotating pack-off container of  claim 1 , wherein the container bottom comprises a flexible sheet material attached to the frame, and wherein the drive mechanism comprises a motor drive that when energized is operable to rotate the frame and container bottom. 
     
     
       3. The rotating pack-off container of  claim 1 , also comprising automated means for translating the container bottom vertically relative to the frame to vary the volume capacity of the container. 
     
     
       4. The rotating pack-off container of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible sheet material has a first portion supported circumferentially around the central pole and a second portion supported circumferentially around the circumferential frame. 
     
     
       5. The rotating pack-off container of  claim 4 , wherein the first portion of the flexible sheet material is supported circumferentially around and rotatably around the central pole. 
     
     
       6. The rotating pack-off container of  claim 5 , wherein the first portion of the flexible sheet material is attached to a sleeve member having a central opening, wherein the pole extends through the central opening and the sleeve member is rotabable and vertically translatable relative to the pole. 
     
     
       7. The rotating pack-off container of  claim 4 , wherein the first portion of the flexible material is translatable in a vertical path from a first position on the pole to a second position on the pole lower than the first position, and wherein translation of the first portion of the flexible material in said vertical path increases the volume capacity of the container. 
     
     
       8. The rotating pack-off container of  claim 4 , wherein the flexible sheet material defines a concave upper surface between the central pole and the circumferential frame. 
     
     
       9. The rotating pack-off container of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the upper surface of the container bottom is positioned below an upper edge of the circumferential frame. 
     
     
       10. The rotating pack-off container of  claim 1 , wherein the circumferential frame is generally circular in shape. 
     
     
       11. The rotating pack-off container of  claim 1 , wherein the circumferential frame comprises a hoop. 
     
     
       12. The rotating pack-off container of  claim 1  wherein the drive mechanism is arranged to rotate the circumferential frame when energized. 
     
     
       13. The rotating pack-off container of  claim 12 , wherein the circumferential frame is attached to the container bottom, and wherein rotation of the circumferential frame causes rotation of the container bottom. 
     
     
       14. The rotating pack-off container of  claim 1 , wherein the container bottom is translatable vertically downwardly in response to increased weight supported on the container bottom. 
     
     
       15. The rotating pack-off container of  claim 1 , wherein the container bottom is translatable vertically downwardly manually or by motor drive. 
     
     
       16. The rotating pack-off container of  claim 1 , also comprising:
 an electronic sensor for monitoring a level of manufactured articles in the container; 
 a controller in communication with the electronic sensor, and 
 a driven mechanism in communication with the controller and operable to translate the container bottom upwardly in response to a first signal from the controller and downwardly in response to a second signal from the controller. 
 
     
     
       17. The rotating pack-off container of  claim 1 , wherein the drive mechanism is arranged to rotate the container bottom wall in a generally horizontal plane so as to rotate manufactured articles when supported on the bottom wall in a generally horizontal plane. 
     
     
       18. The rotating pack-off container of  claim 1 , also comprising a visible fill gauge operable to provide a fill level indication for the container. 
     
     
       19. An apparatus for handling manufactured articles, comprising:
 a rotating pack-off container according to  claim 1 ; and 
 a feed device arranged to feed manufactured articles into the rotating pack-off container. 
 
     
     
       20. A method for handling manufactured articles, comprising:
 feeding manufactured articles into a rotating pack-off container according to  claim 1 ; and 
 removing the manufactured articles from the rotating pack-off container as at least the container bottom of the pack-off container rotates. 
 
     
     
       21. A container, comprising:
 a circumferential frame defining an inner opening; 
 an upstanding pole positioned within the inner opening; and 
 a flexible wall material defining at least a container bottom suspended between the circumferential frame and the pole, with at least a portion of the flexible wall material translatable vertically to vary the volume capacity of the container; and wherein the flexible wall material has a first portion supported circumferentially around the pole and a second portion supported circumferentially around the circumferential frame; and 
 a drive mechanism arranged to rotate the container bottom so as to rotate manufactured articles when supported on the container bottom. 
 
     
     
       22. A method for handling manufactured articles, comprising:
 conveying the manufactured articles into a container according to  claim 21 ; 
 rotating the container bottom with the drive mechanism so as to rotate the manufactured articles supported on the container bottom; 
 vertically translating said at least a portion of the flexible wall material so as to vary the volume capacity of the container; and 
 removing the manufactured articles from the container. 
 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 22 , wherein said vertically translating comprises operating a driven mechanism coupled to the bottom wall. 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 23 , wherein the driven mechanism is selected from a screw drive, a linear drive, a telescoping pneumatic cylinder, a rodless pneumatic cylinder, a chain drive, a rack and pinion, and a linear rod actuator. 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 22 , also comprising electronically sensing a fill level of the container, and wherein said vertically translating is in response to said electronically sensing. 
     
     
       26. A rotating pack-off container for receiving manufactured articles, comprising:
 a circumferential frame; 
 a container bottom wall supported in association with the circumferential frame, the container bottom wall arranged to support manufactured articles when residing in the container, and the container bottom wall translatable vertically to vary a volume capacity of the container; 
 a drive mechanism arranged to rotate the container bottom wall so as to rotate manufactured articles when supported on the bottom wall; and 
 a driven mechanism operable to translate the container bottom upwardly and downwardly, wherein the driven mechanism is a magnetically coupled rodless pneumatic cylinder. 
 
     
     
       27. The rotating pack-off container of  claim 26 , wherein:
 the container bottom wall comprises a flexible sheet material attached to the circumferential frame. 
 
     
     
       28. The rotating pack-off container of  claim 27 , also comprising:
 an upstanding pole positioned within an inner opening defined by the circumferential frame; and 
 wherein the flexible sheet material is suspended between the circumferential frame and the pole. 
 
     
     
       29. The container of  claim 21 , also comprising automated means for translating the container bottom vertically relative to the frame to vary the volume capacity of the container.